like freddy mercury, motherf***er.

It's hard to deny the raw drawing power of a gimmick. Self figured that out inadvertently in 2000, when they released an album created entirely without conventional musical instruments. Twelve songs made up Gizmodgery and the only instruments used to record them were toys. The thing about this pop music is that it's not as precocious or innocent as it's conception may lead you to believe. Don't misconstrue. Self is a pop-rock band playing catchy tunes, as they have been for over a decade now, but occasionally they play to your introspective side. They also occasionally play to your "turn-it-up-loud-and-get-ready-to-go-out" side.
As Matt Mahaffrey, Self mastermind, explains, "I'm a fan of both poppy melodies and not-so-poppy sounds. When someone hears a Self song, I want them to know we're into both. Like peanut butter and chocolate - two great tastes that taste great together!"
Self released three proper albums prior to Gizmodgery along with a free internet-only CD of unreleased songs. They released two more free internet CD's in 2000 and did not resurface until 2004, with Ornament and Crime. Unfortunately you haven't heard any of this album because when Dreamworks sold to Universal Self was, in essence, dropped. The album, slated to be released over two years ago remains in litigation limbo. Fortunately, Mahaffrey released another internet-only collection of songs recorded between 2001 and 2004.
That leaves us with Gizmodgery being the last properly released album from Self, and if it's your starting point for the band, you are not alone. It was mine several years ago, and it's still engaging to me. Below is the list of every toy instrument used to create the album. And head to Self's website for the downloadable internet albums and more (including the ridiculous single "Trunk Fulla Amps").



Self's "Pattycake"
& "What A Fool Believes" (The Doobie Brothers)
from Gizmodgery


Toys used to make Gizmodgery:
Little Tykes Xylophone, Mattel Disney Piano, V-Tech Phone-Pal 200 Toy Phone, Toy Antenna Twist, Fun Rise Remote Control, Little Smart Tiny Touch Phone, 200 Toy Battery Operated Electronic Drum, Playschool Busy Guitar, Talking Whiz Kid Plus, Mattel See & Say, My First Football, Kids 2, Centipede, Evenflo Ball & Sphere, My First Years Spinning Toy, Maple Toys "Toy", Schoenhut Toy Piano, Suzuki Omnichord OM-27, Suzuki Q-Chord, The 1 Man Jam, Hasbro Musi-Link, Mattel Star Guitar, Groovy Tunes Guitar, Yak-Bak, My 1st Shaver, Synsonic Drums, Micro Jammer Drums, Mini-Performer Keyboard, "Talk To Me" Robot, Hal Leonard Piano Fun, Party Bros. Tambourine, Assorted Talking Animals, Assorted Toy Drum Kits and Toy Cymbals, Assorted Generic Toy Cell Phones, and Rock 'n' Roll Elmo.